The 2027 general elections may be over two years away, but political stakeholders in Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency are already making a case for the Ekiti North Senatorial seat, citing historical marginalization.
They are calling on major political parties, particularly the All Progressives Congress, to allocate the Ekiti North senatorial tickets to their constituency for fairness and equity.
The Ekiti Movement for Peace and Good Governance, a prominent group advocating for the constituency to produce the next senator from Ekiti North, has emphasized the need to address what they describe as a “skewed structural imbalance and lopsidedness” in the region’s Senate representation. According to the group’s leadership, the 2027 elections provide an opportunity to rectify this issue.
Chief Ibukun Adejoro, president of the group, and Comrade Femi Olofinbiyi, secretary, expressed their concerns during an interactive session with journalists. They pointed out that Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2, which includes Ido Osi, Moba, and Ilejemeje, has had better representation in the Senate historically, with candidates from the area holding the seat multiple times. Meanwhile, Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency 1 has had minimal representation, having produced only one senator in the last 25 years, according to Leadership.
Adejoro highlighted that while Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2 has seen six different senators since 1999, Oye/Ikole has produced only one senator, Senator Ayo Arise, who served between 2007 and 2011. He added that Moba and Ilejemeje, part of the second federal constituency, had produced a total of three senators over the years, while Ido Osi has also held the seat three times, currently through Senator Cyril Fasuyi.
Olofinbiyi also pointed to the historical context, recalling that the late Senator Ayo Fasanmi from Ilejemeje represented the Ekiti Oke Senatorial Zone during the Second Republic from 1979 to 1983. This, he noted, further strengthens the argument that Oye/Ikole has been left out of meaningful political representation in the region.
The stakeholders are urging political parties to adopt a zoning arrangement for the senatorial seat, calling for Oye/Ikole to be prioritized for the 2027 elections. They argue that the constituency has been unfairly marginalized and deserves a chance to produce the next senator.
Adejoro further emphasized that Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency has many distinguished and capable individuals who could effectively represent the region, including prominent figures like Chief Olusegun Osinkolu from Ayede and Mr. Dipo Bamisaye from Ijesa Isu, who have both contested party primaries in the past. Despite their efforts, they were denied the opportunity to secure the nominations, which Adejoro described as both curious and unjust.
The stakeholders are also calling on the opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party , and other political groups to give due consideration to credible candidates from Oye/Ikole, in the spirit of fairness. Adejoro specifically urged the APC, which prides itself on being a progressive party, to recognize this historical oversight and allow the constituency to field a senator for the first time.
In addition to political representation, Adejoro commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his efforts in the region, particularly in areas such as road construction, empowerment, and the establishment of the Special Agriculture Processing Zone in Ekiti North.
As political maneuvering intensifies in preparation for the 2027 elections, Adejoro stressed the importance of fair and transparent primaries, urging the political parties to ensure that candidates who genuinely have the interests of the people at heart are selected.
The Ekiti North Senatorial District, which includes Oye/Ikole, Ido Osi/Moba/Ilejemeje, and other areas, is currently represented in the Tenth Senate by Senators Cyril Fasuyi, Opeyemi Bamidele, and Yemi Adaramodu, who represent Ekiti North, Central, and South, respectively. The district’s six House of Representatives seats are also distributed across two federal constituencies each in the North, Central, and South zones.
Adejoro said: “You will agree with me that it appears Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1 has been marginalised over the years in the senatorial race and we want to believe that the candidates and the electorate from Oye/Ikole are not second class citizens and we want the political parties to take not of this ahead of 2027.
“We want to appeal to our political parties, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC), to consider zoning the Ekiti North senatorial ticket to Oye/Ikole which had only succeeded once compared to the six times the other federal constituency, Ido Osi/Moba/Ilejemeje had produced Senators to occupy the same seat.
“The Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency has eminent, distinguished and illustrious sons and daughters who can be nominated and voted for to occupy the seat. Many of them had contested for the party nominations especially in the APC but they were denied in very curious and inexplicable circumstances.
“Very competent and viable politicians that have pedigrees like Chief Olusegun Osinkolu from Ayede and Mr. Dipo Bamisaye from Ijesa Isu, among others vied for nomination but were denied victory in the primaries in very suspicious circumstances that leave sour taste in the mouth.
“The only Senator produced by Oye/Ikole, Ayo Arise, who won on the ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but now a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) succeeded in attracting the biggest federal presence and the largest employer of labour, the Federal University, Oye Ekiti to the Senatorial District during his tenure.
“This is a clarion call to the main opposition party, the PDP and other political parties to consider choosing credible and competent candidates from Oye/Ikole for the Ekiti North Senatorial seat for the sake of equity, justice and fair play. We are making this advocacy in good time so that parties can be put on notice ahead of 2027.
“We are particularly throwing this challenge to the APC, that prides itself as the progressive party because since 1999, the progressives have not produced a Senator from Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1, that is Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency and 2027 offers the party an opportunity to do so for the first time.”
